Bernise lived opposite Government House at 36a St George’s Terrace until she was 12. She remembers walking to school with the Governor, when he was out walking his dog. In 1952 her family moved to Cook Street in West Perth. All of Bernise’s schooling was at St Joseph’s Victoria Square, as it has always been known. The original school building still stands on the Mercedes College site and is the oldest existing secondary school in Perth. After school, Bernise worked at W Pope and Co, butchers in Murray Street, right across the road from Boans. For eight years she also worked for Elder, Smith & Co in William Street. In 1962 Bernise married. She and her husband have two sons and one daughter and five beautiful grandchildren. Bernise and her husband have lived all of their married life at the home they made together in Karrinyup. Bernise was very familiar with, and fond of, the Hotel Esplanade. Her great aunt Emily McCurran, known as ‘Auntie’, worked and lived there, almost until it was torn down. Bernise used to visit her there every week during the 1950s and tells us about it in her film.
